Tag Archives: fertilizer

What’s The Best Fertilizer For Orchids?  

Best Fertilizer by Crop, Blog, , ,

What’s The Best Fertilizer For Orchids? 

Orchids are unique plants that have specific nutritional needs. So, it’s essential to find the appropriate fertilizer to promote optimal plant growth. Below, we discuss the unique fertilizer needs of orchids and some of the best orchid fertilizer options.

Orchids Are Unique and Require Specific Fertilizer

Tropical orchids, being epiphytic, thrive by growing on the surfaces of other plants in their native environments. In the greenhouse, they are particularly sensitive to light, temperature, and fertilization. Orchid production requires a high attention to environmental conditions, with 3 distinct phases – Vegetative, Cooling/Spike Induction and Finishing. Fertilization throughout these phases should adjust with the plant’s growth, making nutrient runoff monitoring very important.

4 Orchid Fertilizer Tips

Since orchids are vulnerable to salt build-up, using a pure fertilizer, low in Cl is very important.

As we’ve stated before in our Orchid Production Program, to prevent salt buildup, water your plants until approximately 20% of the applied water drains from the bottom of the pots. The suggested electrical conductivity (EC) level for the water used on plants is 0.5 mmhos, while the EC level of the drained water (leachate) should ideally fall within the range of 1-1.5 mmhos. If the leachate exceeds 2 mmhos, it’s advisable to flush the plants with clear water.

For fertilization, apply fertilizer with every watering at a rate of 200 ppm N, ensuring sufficient levels of calcium and magnesium. It is recommended to continue fertilization as new spikes emerge.

Get more orchid fertilization tips.

What Is The Best Fertilizer For Orchids?

We recommend the following fertilizers for orchids:

Plant-Prod 12-2-14 Optimum Water Soluble Fertilizer

This fertilizer contains 6% calcium and 3% magnesium, as well as a complete micronutrient package.

Plant-Prod® 24-8-16 Foliage Water Soluble Fertilizer

This fertilizer contains forms of nitrogen most readily absorbed and used by plants for vegetative growth. It also contains a full micronutrient package.Alternating between Plant-Prod® 12-2-14 Optimum and Plant-Prod 24-8-16 Foliage will ensure high flower count and maximum flower size.

Plant-Prod is a manufacturer of water-soluble fertilizers and water-soluble cannabis fertilizers. The choice of growers from California to Maine for over 70 years, we formulate with everything from chelated iron to calcium nitrate and zinc fertilizer in order to help you improve yields while cutting fertilizer costs.

Click here to find a Plant-Prod fertilizer supplier near you.

The Problem With Hyperaccumulators: How to tell if you have contaminants in your Cannabis product.

Blog, Cannabis Fertilizer Tips, , , , , , , , , , ,

The Problem With Hyperaccumulators: How to tell if you have contaminants in your Cannabis product.

Plants with the capability of accumulating heavy metals above concentrations that would typically cause harm or toxicity in plants are known as hyperaccumulators. Cannabis is a well-known hyperaccumulator with the ability to remove heavy metal contaminants from soils. This characteristic is desirable for soil remediation but troublesome when cannabis is grown for consumption.

If the nutrients you use are contaminated with heavy metals, your buds will be accumulating these heavy metals, exposing those who consume them.

List of some Cannabis Nutrient Heavy Metals
List of some Cannabis Nutrient Heavy Metals

The Problem: Cannabis Is A HyperAccumulator Of Heavy Metal Contaminants

Plants with the capability of accumulating heavy metals above concentrations that would typically cause harm or toxicity in plants are known as hyperaccumulators. Cannabis is a well-known hyperaccumulator with the ability to remove heavy metals contaminants from soils. This characteristic is desirable for soil remediation but troublesome when cannabis is grown for consumption.

If the nutrients you use are contaminated with heavy metals, your buds will be accumulating these heavy metals, exposing those who consume them.

How can you tell if you have heavy metal contaminants in your final cannabis product?

We care about heavy metals just as much as you do

Licensed producers of cannabis are required to test their finished products for heavy metal contaminants. Plant-Prod® is pleased to make heavy metal analysis results available to growers for our Plant-Prod MJ™ water soluble cannabis fertilizers line. When cannabis growers are aware of heavy metal levels in their crop inputs, they can anticipate potential levels within their buds.

Outsourced analysis of Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers’ heavy metal concentrations:

Table of Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers Heavy Metal Concentrations

Links to older blogs or related webpages

Want to learn about improving your cannabis plant productivity? Download our Cannabis Fertilizer Growers Handbook and learn how to get 5X more buds with 80% less fertilizer.

Or learn How To Use Plant-Prod Cannabis Fertilizers With A Two-Part A&B Nutrient System
Plant-Prod is a manufacturer of water soluble cannabis fertilizers. The choice of growers from California to Maine for over 70 years, we formulate with everything from chelated iron, to calcium nitrate and zinc fertilizer in order to help you get bigger buds for your buck. Click here to find a Plant-Prod cannabis fertilizer supplier near you.

how much calcium fertilizer to feed plants

Do My Plants Need Calcium? How Much Calcium To Feed Your Plants

Blog,

If you’re familiar with the classic milk advertisements praising calcium as a great way to build strong teeth and bones, then you shouldn’t be surprised to know that calcium is also essential for the “bones” of your plants (cell walls). 

The problem is, that knowing how much calcium to feed your plant is not always clear. Luckily Plant-Prod has over 75+ years of experience formulating water soluble fertilizers like Plant-Prod 15-0-15 Cal-Plus and Plant-Prod MJ™ Cal Kick. 

In this post, we’ll explain how much calcium you should be feeding your plant for the best results.

How Do I Know If My Plants Need Calcium?

All plants require a calcium source. Whether it’s coming from your water source or your
fertilizer program, calcium is an essential secondary nutrient. When it is lacking, there are some
tell-tale signs that are specific to calcium:

  • Low growth rate
  • Variable patterns of chlorosis on young leaves
  • Upward curling of leaves
  • Browning/necrosis of apical meristems (growing points)

There are also other plant-specific signs of calcium deficiency like blossom end rot in peppers and tomatoes.

calcium deficiency in plant

 

How Much Calcium To Feed?

How much calcium to apply and when you apply it is difficult to generalize for all types of
plants. Depending on the crops you are growing, you might need to seek further information by
contacting us here, or visiting our crops section for specific recommendations. As a general
rule, the amount of calcium in your water source and your crop will be the main
determining factors dictating how much calcium to feed.

Depending on the demands of your crop and the growth stage that it is at, calcium can be fed
between 50-200 ppm Ca. The initial amount in your water source can contribute to this over all
ppm level and should be taken into consideration when determining fertilizer rates.

Calcium based fertilizers should be fed as part of a balanced fertilizer program. This means
alternating feedings with a traditional NPK fertilizer, such as Plant-Prod 20-10-20 High Nitrate
or Plant-Prod 20-20-20 Classic.

The quality of the water soluble calcium fertilizer you use can also affect the growth of your
plants. Be sure you’re getting what you paid for when purchasing a water soluble calcium
fertilizer and that it’s dissolving completely. (Plant-Prod water soluble fertilizers won’t end up at
the bottom of your tanks or undissolved in spray bottles).

For more information on water-soluble fertilizers and adjusting your pH levels, check out some of our other publications below:

 

Master Plant-Prod Inc. has an extensive product line of 100% water soluble fertilizers and water soluble cannabis fertilizers. Cut your costs, and increase yields. For more information about chelated iron for plants, zinc fertilizer, and more, please contact us here.

Introducing the Plant-Prod Duo-ToteTM

Blog, , , , , , , , ,

The new way to tote

 
Plant-Prod® provides soluble fertilizers to customers both in bags and in bulk. Customized formulations that are delivered in bulk simplify and speed up the preparation of large tanks of fertilizer solution. However, material compatibility limited the range of formulations available. This limitation is now behind us.

Our new Duo-ToteTM has two compartments which keep incompatible ingredients apart, avoiding caking and melting, and allowing the delivery of all formulations. The contents of the Duo-Tote can be released at the same time where they dissolve quickly and without precipitating. Suitable for larger growers, the benefits of the Duo-ToteTM are many:

One tote per tank – faster & easier

  • Formulated specifically for your size of tank and plant nutrition needs.
  • You need just one Duo-ToteTM per tank, which is simple to use and minimizes the possibility of operator error.
  • The Duo-ToteTM can be lifted over the tank using a hoist or forklift. The drawstring on the bottom releases the fertilizer into the tank.
  • No need to take delivery of numerous bags, each requiring time to open, lift and empty.
  • Speed up operations. Our customers report time savings of 75%.




For further details please go here.

Plant-Prod stays ahead of regulatory requirements

Blog, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We take pride in staying on top of the industry innovations and regulations. We have been updating our labels to comply with the new Hazardous Products Regulations and we are taking part in an initiative to update the Fertilizers Regulations. …Read more

See the new Duo-Tote at Cultivate’17

Blog, , , , , , , , , ,

On July 15-18 we will be in Columbus, Ohio for the Cultivate’17 trade show. We will be showing the new Plantex by Plant-Prod Duo-Tote™ which is a new bulk packaging format for pre-mixed plant nutrition formulations. It is suitable for larger growers and is quicker and easier to use than bags, giving time-savings for mixing a large tank of around 70%.

Nutrients in the correct proportions can be customized to the specific requirements of each grower and their water conditions.  Incompatible ingredients co-exist in separate compartments. This new delivery format makes it quicker and more reliable for greenhouse staff to prepare the optimal concentration in the solution tanks.

Visit us at booth 2211 and 2213. We have coffee and chocolates waiting for you.

What is Cultivate?

Cultivate is the industry’s preeminent event for business, networking, professional development, trends, industry research, and business growth. It’s where the entire green industry gathers for an event that’s unparalleled in quality of education, variety of exhibitors, and cross-channel networking and learning. Visit their website here.

A Plant-Prod Water Soluble Fertilizer Growing Story: Leading Taiwanese orchid grower grows over 10,000 orchids a year.

Reviews, , , , , , , ,
The Plant-Prod team visiting orchid breeder and grower Mr. Jiang Fulai.

Mr. Jiang Fulai grows orchids in Pingtung County at the southernmost point of Taiwan. He specializes in cultivating Renathera orchids, and sells the cut flowers to a market hungry for the crimson-red, kidney-shaped flowers that have been revered in Chinese culture for centuries. Mr. Jiang has used Plant-Prod water soluble fertilizers exclusively for the last thirty years.

Orchid growing conditions in Taiwan

Taiwan is a small island nation 180km east of China.

The climate in southern Taiwan is tropical, ideal for growing orchids. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, there is no risk of frost and no need for greenhouses. Plants only need to be shaded from direct sunlight.

In Taiwan, the economics of plant cultivation are significantly different from North America.

It is a small island, the same size as Maryland, with a population of 24 million. Two thirds of the island is rugged mountains, while this population, together with the booming manufacturing sector, are squeezed into a small area remaining. That means land is expensive. In comparison, an acre of agricultural land in the United States costs on average $3,000, while you can expect to pay about $15 million per acre in Taiwan.

Growing 10,000 plants with water soluble fertilizer

Mr. Jiang: “This is my laboratory.”

Mr. Jiang has been cultivating orchids for thirty years, refining methods to maximize productivity. His operation is supported by the Plant-Prod distributor, EverSing. Most of the time he employs Plant-Prod 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer, applying every 7-10 days during the growing phase, followed by Plant-Prod 10-52-10 to induce flowering and strengthen the plant. During periods of high temperatures and rainfall, Mr. Jiang turns to Plant-Prod 8-20-30 to prevent overly leggy plants.

Mr. Jiang states that Plant-Prod nutrition is key to his  remarkable levels of productivity. “Each season we can harvest 10,000 flowers from 6,000 plants,” he states, “which is the same number of flowers that a competing operation produced from 10,000 plants”.

Maximizing plant yield by focusing on plant health

Mr. Jiang (second from left) shows Sanda Jovasevic, Plant-Prod Sales and Marketing Manager (third from left) the results of Plant-Prod fertilizers on his plants.

Orchids are one of the highest value plants cultivated by professional growers, and one of the most sensitive. Plant health needs to be protected and saving a few pennies by using a typical grade fertilizer is unwise.

Plant-Prod water soluble fertilizer is formulated with quality and consistency that is unmatched in commercial fertilizers. Mr. Jiang’s experience is a testament to Plant-Prod’s commitment to maximizing productivity of high value crops.

“When using competing fertilizers, the productivity is about 40% lower,” explains Mr. Jiang in an article on the EverSing website.

In May 2017 Sanda Jovasevic, Plant-Prod Sales and Marketing Manager accompanied by Jane Liu of EverSing visited Mr. Jiang’s operation. Following are photos from their visit.

Mr. Jiang’s plant breeding nursery in southern Taiwan:

Plant Products will be at Expo-FIHOQ in Drummondville, Quebec

Blog, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Come and see Plant Products on November 16, 17 and 18, 2016 at Expo-FIHOQ in the Centrexpo Cogéco – a new location in Drummondville. 

PM-ExpoFIHOQ2015-036_r1-0d89ee0128The premier show in Quebec for ornamental horticulture, green space and municipal professionals is at a new location in Drummondville. Representatives from Plant Products will be happy to answer your questions about high productivity plant nutrition. The booth will be in hall D2 on the bridge that connects the hotel to the convention centre. There will be product demonstration and more details on Master Plant-Prod as well as a contest!

PM-ExpoFIHOQ2015-113-221d926404

Expo FIHOQ
Venez nous rencontrer à l’Expo FIHOQ au Centrexpo Cogéco à Drummondville. Par contre, ne nous cherchez pas sur le plancher des exposants. Notre kiosque sera dans la salle D2 sur la passerelle qui relie l’hôtel au centre des congrès.

Il y aura:

  • des nouveautés
  • des démonstrations
  • un concours
  • un 5 @ 7
  • et bien plus!

 

Thank you for visiting us at Canadian Greenhouse Conference

Blog, , , , , , , , , , ,

image001

Thank you to everyone who stopped by at Canadian Greenhouse Conference in the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada on October 5th and 6th, 2016. It was a great success and we had a great show.

We were pleased to answer questions relating to high productivity plant nutrition, provided advice and bounced around some ideas. We were also giving away gardening gloves to anyone who stoped by our booth.

If you are a licensed grower of medical marijuana we can help you increase the quality and productivity of your operation and explain the purity and solubility of Plantex MJ Bloom, a formulation for the budding stage of growth.

About CGC

The CGC has two days of sessions devoted to Garden Centres and the trade show is expanding to include nurseries. Valuable information and experts in the industry help you grow your business business. You will find people who know your business challenges. It is all about establishing relationships with others in the horticultural industry-relationships that can benefit you professionally and personally.

IMG_5052 IMG_5050 IMG_5046 IMG_5053 IMG_6262